By KYLE MANTHE
TopSports.news
Playing for the first time in 2022 and just the second time with a healthy roster, Washburn men’s basketball looked to use its Saturday game against Missouri Western as a jumping off point for the rest of the season.
The Ichabods were able to accomplish just that as they pulled off a near wire-to-wire victory, 76-64.
“We played well, the first 32 minutes of the game I thought we were terrific. The defense was good and the offense was cruising so that was fun to watch,” said Washburn coach Brett Ballard.
The win moved Washburn to 8-6 on the year and marks the first time they have been two games up in the win column all season.
“We have won four out of five, we are still hanging around the top of the league in the standings, we are two possessions away from being on a six-game win streak,” Ballard said. "We are not that far away from where we need to be. At the same time, we still got work to do, and still got some things to clean up.”
It was the Ichabods' season-long consistent presence, junior Jalen Lewis, who got them started early, scoring the team's first eight points.
Three others joined Lewis by knocking down outside shots early, including two by freshman Michael Keegan. Six made 3s in the first 13 minutes created an early double-digit lead.
Washburn junior Jalen Lewis scored 25 points to lead the way Saturday as the Ichabods took a 76-64 MIAA win over Missouri Western. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn's Jalen Lewis, Tyler Geiman and Levi Braun celebrate a big play in Saturday's 76-64 MIAA win over Missouri Western. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Lewis continued to stay hot down the stretch as he knocked down three straight 3-pointers to give him 20 points in the first half as WU built a 40-25 lead after 20 minutes of play.
“When you see a couple shots go in, that kind of gets the game going for you and when you see coach has confidence to go to you more, and has confidence in you to make shots, then that definitely gives me a lot of confidence,” Lewis said.
“Guys got me in my spots and gave me confidence to shoot the ball, so I just kept on shooting. When you have five guys out there that the defense kind of has to key in on it makes the game a whole lot easier for me.”
To begin the second half Washburn’s two returning players, junior Jonny Clausing and sophomore Tyler Nelson, combined to score 11 of the first 14 points in the half.
“It’s great to have those guys back, those two guys are really good players at both ends of the court. Offensively, they give us some more weapons,” Ballard said. “We are happy to have those guys back around.”
A cutting layup by Keegan extended the Ichabods' lead to 20 points at the 14-minute mark, after which the Ichabods would not score for nearly the next four minutes as the Griffons went on a 7-0 run.
Despite scoring only seven points over a nine-minute stretch Washburn remained ahead by double-digits by forcing turnovers on Missouri Western, which had 19 in the game.
“I thought the defense showed signs today,” Ballard said. “I was pleased with our defense the first 32 minutes of the game, we just got to have some more killer instinct to finish people off.”
Just inside the five-minute mark an and-one conversion by Keegan was followed by a fast break layup from Lewis, giving the Ichabods an 18-point advantage.
Fouls by Washburn down the stretch allowed the Griffons to get within nine points after a 3-pointer at the 1:18 mark by forward Will Eames.
That is as close as Missouri Western would get as the Ichabods would close the game out at the free throw line to secure a 12-point win.
The win moved Washburn to 8-6 on the year and 5-3 in MIAA play.
The Ichabods were led by the 25 points of Lewis, who knocked down six triples. Keegan had 14 points, along with three steals, and Nelson was in double figures with 10 points.
Senior Tyler Geiman finished an all-around performance with seven points, eight assists and six rebounds, the last two team-highs.
Washburn will go on the road next week to face Missouri Southern on Thursday.
MISSOURI WESTERN MEN 64, WASHBURN 76
Washburn 40 36 -- 76
Missouri Western 25 39 -- 64
MISSOURI WESTERN (8-8 4-4)
John 1-4 0-1 2, Eames 5-12 3-4 15, Glover 2-5 0-0 5, Mays 9-17 2-4 23, Bennett 3-8 2-2 9, Chukwuemeke 0-1 1-2 1, Thames 2-7 0-0 0, Anderson Jr. 0-0 0-0 0, Fields 1-2 0-0 2, Bubak 1-3 0-0 3, Peacock 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 8-13 64.
WASHBURN (8-6 5-3)
Harrell 1-5 0-0 3, Deffebaugh 2-3 0-0 4, Geiman 2-6 2-2 7, Lewis 8-19 3-3 25, Keegan 5-12 2-4 14, Ellis 0-2 0-0 0, Nelson 3-8 2-4 10, Clausing 4-10 0-1 8, Braun 0-1 0-0 0, Orr 1-1 3-4 5. Totals 26-67 12-18 76.
3-point-shots – Missouri Western 8-27 (Eames 2-5, Glover 1-4, Mays 3-9, Bennett 1-4, Thames 0-2, Fields 0-1, Bubak 1-2). Washburn 12-29 (Harrell 1-4, Deffebaugh 0-1, Geiman 1-2, Lewis 6-12, Keegan 2-4, Ellis 0-2, Nelson 2-3, Braun 0-1). Rebounds – Missouri Western 45 (Eames, Mays, Bennett, Chukwuemeke 8), Washburn 32 (Geiman 6). Assists – Missouri Western 7 (Bubak, Mays 2), Washburn 17 (Geiman 8). Turnovers – Missouri Western 19, Washburn 7. Total fouls – Missouri Western 18, Washburn 16. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
